Council of Governors chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya urged the national government to increase financial support for counties during a 2019 conference, highlighting persistent funding and human resource challenges in local governance.
The 2018-2019 financial year saw revenue allocations to counties rise from Sh302 billion to Sh314 billion, according to Oparanya, who acknowledged progress in health sector initiatives but emphasized ongoing operational hurdles.
"Insufficient allocation and the delay in disbursement of funds to counties by the Treasury have nearly paralysed projects and hampered service delivery," Oparanya stated, citing systemic delays as a critical barrier to development.
The CoG chair also raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding counties' roles in implementing the President's Big Four agenda. "What is the expectation of counties' participation for the success of the Big Four agenda?" he asked, calling for a defined policy framework to coordinate between national and county governments.
Oparanya praised efforts to advance agricultural projects, water access, and early childhood development programs but stressed the need for timely funding. He also noted the commitment of county governments to support civic education initiatives ahead of the census.
